Press
Hamburg, Bonn, and Gütersloh – 28rd September 2011.
T-Venture and BDMI on board at Hamburg’s Content Fleet
Second round financing successfully completed.
T-Venture, the venture capital company of Deutsche Telekom, and Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments (BDMI) have invested approximately 3.5 Million USD in the Hamburg-based company Content Fleet GmbH. Further, venture capital fund Neuhaus Partners, who have been investors since 2010, have co-invested as part of the syndicate.
Content Fleet plans to use the fresh capital from the second round financing to further develop trend detection. The team will also be strengthened in key areas. The internationalization of the business model has already kicked off and will also be a primary focus in the coming months.
The company, founded in July 2010, generates tailor-made content and portals for publishers as well as other content distributors. Content Fleet uses sophisticated analysis methods to automatically identify new themes and product trends found on the internet. These analysis find their input data via social media networking sites, content publishers, online retailers, key word sources and so forth. The collected data is then assessed in terms of its reach and monetization potential, forming the basis for content production and portal management. In the background a dedicated network of authors ensure that up-to-date, relevant and high quality content, already search engine optimized, finds its way directly to the consumer. Content Fleet has clients including leading digital media groups such as Deutsche Telekom, Bertelsmann and Axel Springer.
“We support our partners in the cost effective development of new markets and user groups” explains Mattias Protzmann, founder and CEO of Content Fleet. “Our technological backend ensures that we make the right decisions about themes and ultimately how we approach the production of content.” The company sets itself apart from so called “Content Farms” that aim only for short term search engine effects. “It’s our goal to keep visitors returning and convince them long-term of our content quality.” Protzmann said, “Quality, information and above all added value are therefore the most important factors.” Ralf Bauman, who is responsible for Deutsche Telekom’s T-Online portal, said: “Content Fleet is a competent and pro-active business partner with whom we can, in a very short space of time, launch new projects such as our themed verticals zuhause.de and wanted.de. The content, data and analysis provided by Content Fleet greatly compliment the work of our editorial team.”
Since it’s founding in 2010, the company has continued to build out its range of services. Parallel to the creation of portals and content the focus has become increasingly more towards providing Software as a Service (SaaS). By the end of 2011 Content Fleet will bring a SaaS solution to the marketplace that allows clients access to the company’s backend technologies. According to Neuhaus Partners’ Paul Jozefak, responsible for the original investment in the summer of 2010, this is an exciting time. “We fully support the strong team at Content Fleet and the products impressed us from an early stage that they were unique.”
“We were always being asked how we manage to produce content and portals so cost-effectively and efficiently” CEO Mattias Protzmann adds. “Our software solution will give publishers the opportunity to supply their employees with the same tools that we are already using. They can better identify potential demand and then implement the resulting measures to gain an edge over their competitors.”
As well as content services for large businesses, the trend experts from Hamburg operate a whole range of special interest portals reaching a monthly total of approximately ten million visitors.
Jan Borgstädt, Head of European Ventures at BDMI, is also satisfied with the future prospects of the fledgling company. “Behind Content Fleet stands, not only a good team, but also an experienced circle of investors. Together we are involved in the early stages of an emerging growth market.”
About Content Fleet
The Hamburg based Content Fleet GmbH is a 2010 division of IT service providers Getanet. The company uses a sophisticated analysis system to automatically identify new themes and trends on the internet. The source for these calculations are, among others, social media networking sites, content publishers, online retailers, and keyword sources. With this knowledge the firm, that was founded in July 2010, produced customised content and portals for publishers and other content distributors. Content can actively increase the reach as long as the optimisation of the content and product offerings has been adopted. Content Fleet counts among its clients large concerns such as Deutsche Telekom AG, Bertelsmann AG and Axel Springer AG. Further information can be found at www.contentfleet.com.
Press Contact
Content Fleet GmbH
Mattias Protzmann, CEO
Semperstrasse 26
22303 Hamburg
Germany
Telephone: +49 (0)40 650 529 00
Fax: +49 (0)40 950 692 344
www.contentfleet.com
About Neuhaus Partners:
Neuhaus Partners GmbH belongs to the leading venture capital associations in Europe. The company invests predominantly in IT companies. Since its inception in 1998, 57 companies have received investment from Neuhaus Partners GmbH with 49 having the company on board as lead investor. Track record: Two IPOs, twenty Trade Sales, three Buy Backs, ten Insolvents. Neuhaus Partners is currently investing its third generation of funds.
Press Contact
Neuhaus Partners GmbH
Thomas Preuss
Investment Manager
Jungfernstieg 30
20354 Hamburg
Germany
Telephone: +49 (0)40 3 55 28 2 – 0
Fax: +49 (0)40 3 55 28 2 – 39
www.neuhauspartners.com
About T-Venture
The T-Venture Holding GmbH was founded in 1997 as a 100% subsidiary of deutsche Telekom AG. Since then, T-Venture have invested in young companies that demonstrate economic and technological synergy with the business ideas of Deutsche Telekom and who also promise an above-average potential for growth. The company is based mainly in Bonn and supports and supplements the commitment of T-Venture of America Inc. in Foster City, Silicon Valley and in Seattle. Regional areas of core investment activity are in Europe, the United States of America and in Asia. Currently T-Venture manages the T-Mobile Venture Fund, The Connected Life and Work Fund, the T-Home Venture Fund, the T-Systems Venture Fund, and the T-Corporate Venture Fund.
Press Contact
T-Venture Holding GmbH
Sabine Kohl
Telephone: +49 (0) 228 308 48 – 0
Fax: +49 (0) 228 308 48 – 819
t-venture@telekom.de
www.t-venture.de
About Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments (BDMI)
Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments is one of the international media company Bertelsmann AG’s established venture capital funds. BDMI investments focus on new trends and business models in digital media and has specialised primary on early stage investments. BDMI wants to promote the chances of success of its portfolio companies through cooperation within Bertelsmann, helping companies not only with capital but also an extensive network of contacts.
Press Contact
Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments
Stephan Knuettel
Telephone: +49 (0) 5241807769
Fax: +49 (0) 52 41 80-94 277
Email: stephen.knuettel@bertelsmann.de
www.bdmifund.com